Grounding clamp

ABSTRACT

The grounding clamp is formed from a single strip of spring metal and is so shaped as to employ to a considerable extent the inherent resiliency of the metal in the attaching of the clamp to a conductive member. At least one edge of the clamp is formed with sharp barbs for good electrical conductivity.

United States Patent [72] lnventor Dale G. Oleson Newton, Iowa [21] Appl. No. 750,864 [22] Filed Aug. 7, 1968 [45] Patented July 20, 1971 [73] Assignee The Maytag Company Newton,'lowa [54] GROUNDING CLAMP 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

24/81 339/95, 339/251, 339/264 [51] lnt.Cl H01r 3/06 150] Field ofScarch 339/14,95, 251,264; 24/81 .3, 73.7, 73 SC, 73 B, 73 SA, 81 11A 1 50] ilel'erenceu (filed UNITED STATES PATENTS 828,164 11/1906 Williams 24/813 X OTHER REFERENCES RADIO & TV NEWS February, 1954 page 124 339-14 (L) Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Albert A. Hafer Attorney-William G. Landwier ABSTRACT: The grounding clamp is formed from a single strip of spring metal and is so shaped as to employ to a considcrable extent the inherent resiliency of the metal in the attaching of the clamp to a conductive member. At least one edge of the clamp is formed with sharp barbs for good electrical conductivity.

GROUNDING CLAMP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to metal clamping devices and has reference more particularly to a grounding clamp for connecting the ground wire of an electrical circuit or appliance to a conductive pipe, conduit or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention has for its major objectives the provision of a metal grounding clamp that can be substantially produced from a single strip of metal by relatively simple stamping and bending operations, and a clamp which will insure positive electrical contact with the pipe or conduit to which it is applied.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a metal clamping device which will be economical to manufacture due to its simple construction, which will be easy to use and wherein the inherent resiliency of the metal is employed to a maximum extent in the clamping of the device to a pipe or other grounding element.

With these and various other objects in view the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts:

FIG. I is a perspective view of one form of clamping device which embodies the improved features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing the characteristic formation of the metal clamp of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of clamping device coming within the invention;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the clamp of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the clamp as shown in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREO'EM BODIMENTS In the form of the invention shown iii-FIG. l, the clamping devicelfl is formed from a single strip of spring steel or other suitable material by a series of stampingbending operations. The characteristic formation of the completed clamp is best shown in FIG. 2 wherein it will be observed that the metal strip of the clamp. is bent to form a triangular wire-grounding body portion and an arcuate clamping portion. Thebody portion to V which the grounding wire is. attached includes the front section 11 and the two connecting lengths 12 and 13. The arcuate clamping portion is formed by the arcuate sections 14 and 15. The arcuate sections each terminate in a flange 16 which may be utilized by the operator to assist him. in spreading the opposed sections of the clamp and in applying the clamp to a pipe or conduit such as 17.

The from section II of the triangular body portion is punched to form the clip 20 and which is thus integral with the metal of the clamp. The clip is given a special shape so as to form the wire-gripping terminal end part 21. In attaching a grounding wire to the clamp it is only necessary to depress the clip 20 and insert the bare end of the grounding wire in the arcuate terminal end 21. When the clip is released the inherent resiliency of the metal will cause the clip to spring back to initial position and the grounding wire will be securely gripped between the part 21 and the rear surface of the front section 1 1.

In accordance with the invention the'top and bottom edges of the arcuate sections 14 and 15 are notched as at 22. These notches provide sharp barbs 23 which engage the pipe or conduit and insure good electrical contact between the grounding clamp and the pipe or conduit to which it is applied under the spring force of connecting lengths l2 and I3 and arcuate sections 14 and 15.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 4, the shape of the clamping device 30 is different although both modifications employ to a maximum extent the inherent resiliency of the metal strip in the clamping action of the device. The clamp of FIG. 4 is essentially U-shaped in outline with the respective legs 31 and 32 of the U, and the arcuate sections 33 and 34 all being integral. The completed clamp can be produced from a single strip of spring steel or other suitable material by stamping and bending operations. In this modification, the legs 3] and 32 are drawn together by the connecting screw 35. When the screw is tightened into a sheet metal nut formed in leg 31, the pressure applied to the arcuate sections 33 and 34 will increase the gripping action of the clamp on the pipe or conduit such as 17. The notches 36 in the top and bottom edges of the arcuate section form the sharp barbs 37 which assist in grounding the clamp to the pipe or conduit to which it is applied. The resilient clip has been omitted from this form of the invention since its function is taken over by the crew 35 to which the bare end of the ground wire may be easily secured. Leg 32 is formed with an elongated clearance hole 38 to receive connecting screw 35. The elongated hole 38 permits proper threading engagement of the connecting screw 35 with the formed nut 39 in leg 31 whereby the clamping device will accommodate a wide range of conductor member sizes between the arcuate sections 33 and 34.

In both forms of the invention as disclosed, the metal strip is bent upon itself to form connected half sections. Each half section is shaped to form in conjunction with each other the wire-grounding portion and the clamping portion. In the clamping device of FIG. I the resiliency of the metal strip is solely employed in affixing the clamp to a conductive member. In FIG. 4 the screw materially assists in the clamping action.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings, as various other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

I. A clamping device formed from a single strip of spring metal shaped to define a wire-grounding portion and a clamping portion, said clamping portion being formed by a pair of arcuate sections in opposed relation, said grounding portion interconnecting said arcuate sections, connection means associated with said grounding portion for electrically connecting a ground wire to the clamping device, and means integrally I formed in at least one of the respective arcuate sections and defined by a plurality of spaced-apart barbs juxtaposed an edge of said strip for effectively grounding the clamping device to the conductive member to which the same may be applied, said barbs comprising sharp teeth having a generally acute angular relationship to the adjacent portion of said arcuate section and extending generally inwardly toward the opposite arcuate section and rearwardly toward said grounding portion to permit push-on assembly of said clamping device on said conductive member and to effectively resist removal of the clamping device from said conductive member.

2'. A clamping device formed from a single strip of spring metal as defined by claim I, wherein the metal strip is bent upon .itself to form substantially identical half sections, and wherein said half sections in their opposed relation provide the wire-grounding portion of the clamping device and the clamping portion thereof.

3. A clamping device formed from a single strip of spring metal as defined by claim I, wherein notches are lanced in each edge of the respective arcuate sections to provide inwardly extending sharp barbs for grounding the clamping device.

4. A clamping device formed from a single strip of spring metal bent upon itself to form a pair of connected half sections, each half section being further shaped to define in conjunction with the other a wire-grounding portion and a clamping portion, said clamping portion being formed by a pair of arcuate sections in opposed relation, said grounding portion interconnecting said arcuate sections, connection means comprising an integral clip formed in said grounding portion for electrically connecting a ground wire to the clamping device, and means integrally formed in at least one of the respective arcuate sections and defined by a plurality of spaced-apart barbs juxtaposed an edge of said strip for effectively grounding the clamping device to the conductive member to which the same may be applied, said barbs comprising sharp teeth having a generally acute angular relationship to the adjacent portion of said arcuate section and extending generally inwardly toward the opposite areuate section and rearwardly toward said grounding portion to permit push-on assembly of said clamping device on said conductive member and to effectively resist removal of the clamping device from said conductive member.

5. A clamping device as defined by claim 4, wherein notches are lanced in both edges of each of the areuate sections to provide sharp barbs for grounding the clamping device.

6. A clamping device formed from a single strip of spring metal bent upon itself to form a pair of connected half sections, each half section being further shaped to define in con junction with the other a U-shaped wire-grounding portion and a clamping portion, said clamping portion being formed by a pair of arcuate sections in opposed relation, said grounding portion interconnecting said arcuate sections, connection means associated with said grounding portion and comprising a threaded member for positively urging said half sections together and providing means for electrically connecting a ground wire to the clamping device, and means integrally formed in at least one of the respective arcuatc sections and defined by a plurality of spaced-apart barbs juxtaposed an edge of said strip for effectively grounding the clamping device to the conductive member to which the same may be applied, said barbs comprising sharp teeth having a generally acute angular relationship to the adjacent portion of said areuate section and extending generally inwardly toward the opposite arcuate section and rearwardly toward said grounding portion to permit push-on assembly of said clamping device on said conductive member and to effectively resist removal of the clamping device from said conductive member.

7. A clamping device defined by claim 6, wherein notches are lanced in both top and bottom edges of the respective arcuate sections to provide sharp barbs for grounding the clamping device and wherein the threaded member is operable for controlling the clamping pressure applied by the arcuate see tions of the clamping device.

8. A clamping device as defined by claim 6 wherein one of said half sections defines an elongated clearance hole for said threaded member whereby said clamping device will accommodate a wide range of conductive member sizes. 

1. A clamping device formed from a single strip of spring metal shaped to define a wire-grounding portion and a clamping portion, said clamping portion being formed by a pair of arcuate sections in opposed relation, said grounding portion interconnecting said arcuate sections, connection means associated with said grounding portion for electrically connecting a ground wire to the clamping device, and means integrally formed in at least one of the respective arcuate sections and defined by a plurality of spacedapart barbs juxtaposed an edge of said strip for effectively grounding the clamping device to the conductive member to which the same may be applied, said barbs comprising sharp teeth having a generally acute angular relationship to the adjacent portion of said arcuate section and extending generally inwardly toward the opposite arcuate section and rearwardly toward said grounding portion to permit push-on assembly of said clamping device on said conductive member and to effectively resist removal of the clamping device from said conductive member.
 2. A clamping device formed from a single strip of spring metal as defined by claim 1, wherein the metal strip is bent upon itself to form substantially identical half sections, and wherein said half sections in their opposed relation provide the wire-grounding portion of the clamping device and the clamping portion thereof.
 3. A clamping device formed from a single strip of spring metal as defined by claim 1, wherein notches are lanced in each edge of the respective arcuate sections to provide inwardly extending sharp barbs for grounding the clamping device.
 4. A clamping device formed from a single strip of spring metal bent upon itself to form a pair of connected half sections, each half section being further shaped to define in conjunction with the other a wire-grounding portion and a clamping portion, said clamping portion being formed by a pair of arcuate sections in opposed relation, said grounding portion interconnecting said arcuate sections, connection means comprising an integral clip formed in said grounding portion for electrically connecting a ground wire to the clamping device, and means integrally formed in at least one of the respective arcuate sections and defined by a plurality of spaced-apart barbs juxtaposed an edge of said strip for effectively grounding the clamping device to the conductive member to which the same may be applied, said barbs comprising sharp teeth having a generally acute angular relationship to the adjacent portion of said arcuate section and extending generally inwardly toward the opposite arcuate section and rearwardly toward said grounding portion to permit push-on assembly of said clamping device on said conductive member and to effectively resist removal of the clamping device from said conductive member.
 5. A clamping device as defined by claim 4, wherein notches are lanced in both edges of each of the arcuate sections to provide sharp barbs for grounding the clamping device.
 6. A clamping device formed from a single strip of spring metal bent upon itself to form a pair of connected half sections, each half section being further shaped to define in conjunction with the other a U-shaped wire-grounding portion and a clamping portion, said clamping portion being formed by a pair of arcuate sections in opposed relation, said grounding portion interconnecting said arcuate sections, connection means associated with said grounding portion and comprising a threaded member for positively urging said half sections together and providing means for electrically connecting a ground wire to the clamping device, and means integrally formed in at least one of the respective arcuate sections and defined by a plurality of spaced-apart barbs juxtaposed an edge of said strip for effectively grounding the clamping device to the conductive member to which the same may be applied, said barbs comprising sharp teeth having a generally acute angular relationship to the adjacent portion of said arcuate section and extending generally inwardly toward the opposite arcuate section and rearwardly toward said grounding portion to permit push-on assembly of said clamping device on said conductive member and to effectively resist removal of the clamping device from said conductive member.
 7. A clamping device defined by claim 6, wherein notches are lanced in both top and bottom edges of the respective arcuate sections to provide sharp barbs for grounding the clamping device and wherein the threaded member is operable for controlling the clamping pressure applied by the arcuate sections of the clamping device.
 8. A clamping device as defined by claim 6 wherein one of said half sections defines an elongated clearance hole for said threaded member whereby said clamping device will accommodate a wide range of conductive member sizes. 